Hoisting means



T. mgmcHms. HOISTING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, I921.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922';

T. M NICHOLS. HOISTING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1921.

Patented. Nov. '7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 24 wue/wtoac T. M. NICHOLS.

HOISTING MEANS-. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1921.

KASQSQ L Patented Nov. 7, 1922 Q s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Load Brake CZELtfi Wat case llo.v 339,828, filed Nov.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

l EiTATES THOMAS M. NICHOLS, OF ASHLA'ND, KENTUCKY.

rarsn r OFFICE.

norsrrne MEANS.

Original application filed November 22, 1919, Serial No. 339,828. Divided and this application filed January 3, 1921.

citizen of the United States, residing at .tish l'and, in the county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Hoisting Means, of which the following is a specification. I

Attention is directed to my co-pending -22, setting forth sundry improvements in a crane. The device forming the subject matter of this present application, and the following description and claims, has been divided out of my co-pending application above alluded to.

The present invention aims to provide a novel hoisting means, and mechanism for controlling the same.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention residesin the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention t In the accompanying drawings 2-- Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed inaccordance with the invention; Figure 2 is atop plan; Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional detail disclosing the brake; Figure 5 is adiagram showing the manifold and attendant parts.

. The numeral 14 designates a support, which may be a turntable Ijournaled for rotation on a truclr 1 constituting a part of a crane. A shaft 38 is journaled in bearings 37 on the support 14 and carries a gear wheel 45 meshing with a pinion 46 on the shaft of an air compressor 47 mounted on the support 14. From the air compressor 47 a pipe48 leads to an air tank 49 carried by the support 14. From the air tank 49, a pipe 111 leads to a manifold 110 on the support 14.

A gear wheel 50 is mounted on one end of the shaft 38 and meshes into a gear wheel 51 secured to one member 52 of a shaft, the said member 52 being journaled in bearings 53 1919, and

Serial No. 434,656.

posed in the engine shaft 71 and is operated by any suitable means indicated at 108. A water tank 73 is carried by the support 14, a p1pe 74 leading from the water tank to the acket of the engine 72 for the purpose of cooling the engine. 1

. A clutch member 54 is carried by the shaft part 52 and cooperates with a clutch member 55 splined at 56 to a shaft member 57 journaled in bearings 58 on the support 14. A drum 59 is secured to the shaft member57, a flexible element, or load-carrying line 104 being engaged around the drum. The drum 59 includes an end wall 60, grooved as shown at 61 to receive a brake strap 62, theends 'of the brake strap being connected to the forks 63 of a lever 64 fulcrumed at 65 on a bracket 66 mounted on a cylinder 67 carried by the support 14. In the cylinder 67 a plunger 68 operates. A compression spring, 69- surrounds the exposed portion of the plunger 68 and cooperates with the foot of the bracket 66, and with a washer 200 mounted on the plunger and held thereon by the lever 64. A spring 69 serves to maintain the brake strap 62 normallyengaged with the end wall of the drum 59, in braking of holding relation thereto. 1 i

A pipe 119 communicates with the manifold 110 and is controlled by a valve 120. The pipe 119 leads to the cylinder 67 which controls thebrakestrap 62 of the load drum 59. Pipes 126 communicate with the mani fold 110 and leadto a cylinder 127, the piston rod 1280f which is connected with one end of a lever 129 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the'support 14, the other end of the lever being connected operatively with the part 55 of the clutch which connects the members 52 and, 57 of the shaft shown in Figure 3. A pipe 131 leads from the manifold 110 to the cylinder 67 of the load brake mechanism. The pipes 126 and 131 are controlled by a valve 130.

The shaft 38 transmits motion by way of the gear wheels 45 and 46 to the air com elevate the load which iscarried by the line 104, and to reel the line 104 onthe drum 59. Then, the valve 130 is operated to admit air into the appropriate one of the pipes 126, and into the cylinder 127, the rod 128 of the cylinder operating the lever 129, and

the lever 129 shifting theclutch member 55 into engagement with the clutch member 54. The aforesaid manipulation of the valve 130 admits air into the pipe 131, pressure being transmitted to the cylinder 67, and the lever 64 operating to release the hold of the brake strap 62 on the member 60 of the drum 59. Thus, simultaneously with the starting of therotation of the drum 59, the hold of the brake strap 62 thereon is released. A driving train now is established, comprising the intern'al combustion engine 72, its shaft 71, the pinion 70, the gear wheel 51, the shaft member 52, the clutch element 54, the clutch element 55, the shaft 57 and the drum 59. The line. 104 thus will be drawn in and reeled on the drum 59, an elevation of the load resulting.

As soon as the valve 130 is operated to disconnect the clutch elements 54 and 55, so that the load no longer is raised, the pressure delivered by the pipe 131 to the brake cylinder 67 is released, the spring 69 reasserting itself to cause the brake strap 62 to cooperate with the end wall 60 of the drum 59. Thus, the load may be held at any position to which it may have been elevated. 1

Should it be desired to slack away the flexible element 104, and to lower the load, then, Whilst the clutch members 54 and 55 are out of engagement, as aforesaid, the valve 120 is manipulated, admitting air into the brake cylinder 67 by Way of the pipe 119,- the action of the spring 69 being overcome, and the hold of the strap 62 on the end wall 50 of the drum 59 being released. The valve l30-couples up the drum 59 with the internal combustion engine 72, and releases the drum from operative connection With the engine, the load holding means of Figure 4 being operated atthe same time. The valve 120 is used only when it is desired to slack away the line 104, thereby to lower the load, as aforesaid, after the load has been lifted to the desired point.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: i

1. In a device of the class described, a winding mechanism including a shaft comprising driving and driven parts; a flexible element adapted to be wound on the driven part; a clutch forming a connection between said parts; a brake normally engaging the driven part; mechanism actuated by fluid pressure for operating the clutch to connect said parts; mechanism actuated by fluid pressure for releasing the brake when said parts are connected by the clutch; a motor operatively connected with the driving part *ofthe shaft a compressor; means for driving the compressor from the motor; means for conveying fluid pressure to both of said mechanisms, from the compressor; and a valve in the last specified means, operating to actuate both of said mechanisms simultaneously,

2. In a device of the class described, a winding mechanism including a shaft comprising driving and driven parts; a flexible element adapted to be wound on the driven part; a clutch forming a connection between said parts;-a brake normally engaging the driven part; mechanism actuated by fluid pressure for operating the clutch to connect said parts; mechanism actuated by fluid pressure for releasing the brake when said parts are connected by the clutch; a motor operatively connected with the driving part of the shaft; a compressor; means for driv ing the compressor from the motor; means for conveying fluid under pressure from the compressor to both of said mechanisms; a valve in the last specified means and operating to actuate both of said mechanisms simultaneously; a secondmeans for conveying fluid under pressure from the compressor to the mechanism'for releasing the brake; and a valve controlling said second means. In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS lVLNICI-IOLS.

' Witnesses:

FRED K. HAMILTON, H. M. COLEMAN. 

